‘Bilic the man for new memories’

Moving house is tough but West Ham’s new London Stadium will soon be a “flesh and blood” home with Slaven Bilic on the touchline, says Niall Quinn.

I was in the London Stadium yesterday for West Ham’s first ever Premier League game in their new home. Thousands of miles away the curtain was coming down on the Rio Olympics. 

It was strange to think that when the crowds go home and Rio gets back to normal Botafogo will just continue playing in the athletics stadium and Fluminense and Flamengo will continue sharing the Maracana. And the city authorities will still own both places.

Compared with the drawn-out drama involving West Ham, Tottenham, Leyton Orient, some lawyers and the flagship London Olympic venue it all seems very sensible and simple. Rio will have plenty of money worries but the big stadiums won’t be among them.

Given the sweetheart of a deal that West Ham finally worked out it is important they make a success of their new stadium. 

I played at the old Boleyn Ground many times where the crowd were right in your ear and the sights and smells of the place reflected the personality of the club. It was a tough place to go to. The dressing rooms were so tight and so cramped I had to choose whether to have my head inside and my feet outside or the other way around. Andy Carroll, I know your pain.  

It’s up to Slaven Bilic to create the memories which will make the London Stadium truly feel like home. For now it’s not totally unlike playing at a neutral venue given the considerable added pitch dimensions for a start – six yards longer and five wider than before.

The stadium’s technical director is Stephen Rice, the son of Pat Rice of Arsenal fame. I remember him as a kid around Highbury. Yesterday he gave me the lowdown on the place. It was hard not to be impressed; from the 50m synthetic running track under the stands to the dressing rooms built for American football teams, everything is of top specification. 

I think in Bilic, West Ham have the right man to turn a spanking new stadium into a flesh and blood home. He has the charisma and the ambition to make West Ham his club and to bring people with him. Even in a blockbuster league dotted with big-name managers like Mount Rushmore is dotted with those giant stone effigies, a passionate, socialist, …

continue reading in source www.skysports.com